Spread the cheer! Inspire students to write their own Christmas Short stories this holiday season through this creative, interactive Google slide lesson and activity.
 
The lesson starts by reviewing 5 literary devices that can help students structure a short story (setting, mood, description, turning point, and resolution). Students review the literary devices by clicking on the Christmas bulbs. The Christmas bulbs will take them to another slide with the definition of the literary device. Clicking the red bulb in the upper right hand corner will take them back to the bulb slide to review more. They can then exit presentation mode and drag and drop all of the bulbs anywhere they want onto the Christmas tree. Students can then read an example Christmas short story written by a published author (me!).
 
Next, students will go to a "Christmas tree farm." Clicking on the trees will take them to a digital cheat sheet for each literary device. Each cheat sheet contains ideas for their short stories that they can choose from (if they wish). They can use the graphic organizer worksheet to record theirs for a starting point in structuring their story. To go back to the tree farm, they simply click on the tree in the upper right hand corner.
 
Students can also fill out a character profile slide AND have fun getting to know their characters by dressing them up in Christmas accessories (exit slideshow mode, drag and drop the items onto the character's head, face, or attire).
 
Lastly, students will start writing their own Christmas short story. This is an activity that can be completed over a couple of days if desired. After students write their stories, teachers or librarians can have students swap for feedback or host an open mic event, publish the stories in an online or printed format, or display them in the class, school, or library to help spread the Christmas spirit!
 
Happy holidays!
 
* Note * to drag and drop items (like bulbs and Christmas accessories), students must exit slideshow/presentation mode first. Clickable objects that take students to literary definitions and cheat sheets on other slides work best in presentation mode. Students can enter/exit presentation mode as needed.